Jay H. Shubrook, Jr, DOOhio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Department of Family Medicineshubrook@ohio.edu

Dr. Schwartz disclosed that he receives research support from Medtronic and sanofi-aventis. Ms. Vajen and Drs. Holt, Marx, and Shubrook reported no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article.

The care received by nursing home residents with diabetes does not meet ADA standards for ambulatory adults, this study finds. Nor should it. The frail elderly need new standards that address their particular needs.

Purpose Our objective was to compare the management of diabetes mellitus (DM) in residents of extended-care facilities with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) standards of care for ambulatory adults.

Methods We reviewed the charts of 245 residents in 14 extended-care facilities. All had a physician-documented diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 DM and had spent at least 3 of the past 12 months in the facility. We reviewed medical diagnoses, medications, laboratory reports, and consultation notes of one-year duration, then compared our findings with the ADA standards of care.

Conclusions Our chart review demonstrates that the management of diabetes in extended-care facilities does not meet the recommended ADA standards of care for ambulatory adults. Although 36.7% of patients met the A1c goal, the A1c did not account for glucose variability. Only 46.8% of patients met the recommended LDL goal. Our results suggest the need for new standards of care for patients with diabetes residing in nursing facilities. These standards should take into account the particular needs of this patient population, specifically with regard to hypoglycemic risk, cardiovascular risk factors, and quality of life.

A surge in elderly patients with diabetes has placed a large burden on extended-care facilities. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the prevalence of diabetes among nursing home residents is 33.3%.1 Between 1995 and 2004, the estimated number of long-term care residents with diabetes mellitus (DM) grew by 7.1%, from approximately 242,000 to 329,000.2 The increase adds to the challenge extended-care facilities face in attempting to provide high-quality care to patients with diabetes. No well-accepted management guidelines exist for nursing home residents with DM.3

Frail older adults with DM are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular conditions than younger patients, and are at greater risk for hypoglycemic coma and serious hyperglycemia.4,5 A high frequency of hypoglycemia, especially nocturnal hypoglycemia, has been reported among nursing home residents with diabetes.6 Intensive insulin therapy is associated with hypoglycemia and increased mortality.7 However, hyperglycemia also must be considered because it significantly impairs quality of life. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia causes osmotic diuresis, leading to polyuria, nocturia, aggravated incontinence, and disrupted sleep, as well as contributing to dehydration.4 All of these problems have serious implications for quality of life and overall health.

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Although poor glycemic control and hypertension are major problems facing nursing home patients with diabetes mellitus, little research has examined how therapies targeting these problems help the elderly.

Although studies have identified poor glycemic control and hypertension as the major problems facing nursing home patients with DM,2,6 little research has examined how therapies targeting these problems help the elderly. Solid evidence supports the effectiveness of controlling hyperglycemia, lipid levels, and blood pressure (BP), along with aspirin therapy, in preventing microvascular disease, but does not reflect research involving older patients.8

A study of nursing homes found that health care teams did not respond to half of all significantly abnormal laboratory test results.9 Physicians who are aware of the problems associated with DM in elderly patients may hesitate to treat them because of the lack of guidelines for this patient population or concerns about adverse effects. Because of the deficiency of clinical trial data in elderly patients and the heterogenicity of the population, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests that “less stringent treatment goals” may be appropriate.10

A central conflict in diabetes care for nursing home residents revolves around the need for guidelines that are both generalizable and easily individualized. Some studies support the need for individualized care, particularly with regard to A1c goals, because residents vary greatly in both disease burden and frailty.8,11 Yet individualized treatment could increase the complexity of care for nurses who must manage many patients, potentially having a negative effect on patient care.

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Frail older adults with diabetes are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular conditions than younger adults and are at greater risk for hypoglycemic coma and serious hyperglycemia.

Implementation of a treatment protocol for residents with DM is associated with a decrease in the number of hospital days for acute and chronic complications,12 but one study found that only 15% of nursing homes had such a protocol.13 Ultimately, long-term care facilities may benefit from an approach that strikes a balance between individualized care and generalized goals and does not closely mimic either acute hospital care or outpatient management of diabetes.3